Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Rainier wasn’t anything like her father. He might appear to be on the surface, but she knew him. She could see into the heart of him. He would protect their children and expect her to do the same. Rainier would never do the things to his daughter—or son—that Jack had done to her.
“I love Rainier,” Shabina said, fingers stroking her aching thigh. Rainier had healed the open lacerations there. He’d healed so many wounds, both body and soul.
Raine smiled at her. “Fortunately, Rainier is very much in love with you. There’s one more thing before you talk with the FBI agents, and I’ll warn you again not to give them information until we have a chance to talk with Decker. Those two men from Paris claiming to be Interpol agents? They took a flight to Jordan. When they landed in Jordan, they were met by a car sent from the palace. They never made it to the palace. The two men were found dead in the back seat, and evidence of their participation with Scorpion was prominently displayed.”
Shabina closed her eyes briefly, inhaling to take air into her lungs. She would have to get used to Rainier taking chances. He might forever deny that he had anything to do with the deaths of the double agents, but she knew he had. He probably was working for the prince and receiving his information directly from the palace. She told herself that at least he had powerful allies.
Chapter Seventeen
“My client has information pertinent to your case,” Raymond Decker informed Rob Howard and Len Jenkins, the two FBI agents working on the murders in Yosemite.
The two men exchanged a long look, and then both sat in the chairs at the table Rainier indicated. Raine was already seated there. Rather than meet at the house, Decker had suggested they meet in the café. He was very clear that Shabina wasn’t to answer any question without his permission.
Rainier sat beside her, his hand firmly circling hers. Just having him there gave her more confidence. Shabina was surprised that the revelations about her father had given her more confidence and strength—not less. Without the heavy guilt weighing her down, guilt that she’d caused her parents such pain. Guilt that she wasn’t doing as they wanted. Guilt that she wanted her own life and not theirs. So much. Realizing that her father had gone to such lengths to be rid of her or force her into compliance had not only lifted the guilt from her shoulders but left her feeling much more confident.
Rainier had asked her what she wanted to do about her father. He sat across from her in one of the comfortable chairs her friends loved sitting in. A fire blazed in the fireplace, and her dogs crowded around her. Rainier had looked at her not only with love but with compassion. And he’d asked what she wanted to do with the revelations about her father.
Just remembering how he gave her the choice to make the decisions—that he cared how she felt—made her love him more. She knew what his preference was. He told her without hesitation that if it were up to him, he would kill her father and free Yasemin and Shabina from his tyranny. He went on to say the decision was ultimately hers.
Although the subject had been serious, Shabina had wanted to laugh at Rainier’s simplicity of solving the problem. “You can’t use killing as a solution every time someone is a bully or mean.”
He’d raised an eyebrow. “Actually, Qadri, I can. Enemies tend to disappear when I’m around. It is that simple.”
“You’re going to have to turn over a new leaf. Once we have children, what is that going to teach them?”
“Survival.”
She did laugh then. “Fortunately, I think good came out of the newest revelations about my father. I don’t feel guilt anymore. I’m happy to never talk to him again. I don’t want him in my life. I feel sad that by cutting him out of my life, I won’t be able to see my mother, but I know there is a price to be paid when you do something so drastic.”
“You could have your mother if you let me do what needs to be done.”
Shabina had shaken her head while she stroked her fingers through Malik’s fur. “No, my mother loves my father. She isn’t like me. She’s very fragile. She needs him. I’m good with my decision to cut him out of my life. I do feel it is necessary to give the information about the items from Saudi Arabia to the FBI. They can decide if they want to question Jack or just leave it be. I’m sure if they try to question him, he’ll threaten their careers.”
“That isn’t your problem.”
“No, it’s not. Raine wants Decker—he’s a lawyer for the CIA—to arrange the meeting. I’d like you to be there for moral support, but I’ll understand if you prefer not to go.”